Visiting a Snowdrop Collection

‘Bertram Anderson’ is a classic snowdrop with very large and elegant flowers, earning it a coveted Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

You have probably figured out that I am absolutely crazy about snowdrops, a confirmed galanthophile. This passion is hard to understand or explain even to myself. One of the frustrations of being a galanthophile in the US is that most of the more than 1,500 varieties of snowdrops are not available for viewing here. So while we see lots of photos, and read about all the British snowdrop events, what we really want to do is see the plants in person.

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This is one of the best examples of ‘Art Nouveau’ that I have seen. Notice the way the spathe (encloses the bud before flowering) curves elegantly over the flower.

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You can imagine my excitement when I was recently invited to visit and photograph the wide-ranging snowdrop holdings of a local collector. Although there were hundreds of snowdrop cultivars in bloom, certain plants really stood out, and I want to share them with you. Here they are in alphabetical order.

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‘Bill Bishop’ is similar to ‘Bertram Anderson’—they are both in the ‘Mighty Atom’ group—but its flowers are longer and wider.

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‘Cider with Rosie’ has the glossy, bright green leaves characteristic of its species Galanthus woronowii.

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My eye is always drawn to Galanthus gracilis because of its dark blue-green leaves and markings and the graceful flare of the tips of the inner segments.

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‘Gravity’ is another giant flower, this time with quilted outer segments and an endearing little face.

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Virescent (all green) snowdrops like ‘Green Tear’ are the current rage and fetch astounding prices on eBay in the UK.

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‘Hoverfly’ has a definite insect look to it when swaying in the breeze on its long crooked pedicel (flower stem).

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‘The Iliad’, a cultivar of Galanthus trojanus, has the dark markings and large, cupped outer segments that I prefer.

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‘Jessica’ sports some beautiful stripes.

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‘Madelaine’ is a very desirable yellow snowdrop.

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‘Mother Goose’ has the darkest gold marking to date and made the UK papers last year with a very high price.

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‘Natalie Garton’ is a lovely cultivar that produces extra, oversized inner segments. You can see them hanging down below the green mark.

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The underside of ‘Natalie Garton’.

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The green stripes on the outside of ‘South Hayes’ make it very unique and desirable.

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‘The Whopper’ is coveted for its large size and bold markings.

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This seedling of the common snowdrop, so new it has no name, is anything but common with its bold green-shaded outer segments, delicately white-edged inner segments, and ghostly teardrop marking.

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As you can tell, all snowdrops most definitely do not look alike, although I am the first to admit that they usually require up close viewing. I was thrilled to see some of the rarer forms in person and share them with you.

Carolyn

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Carolyn’s Shade Gardens is a local retail nursery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S., zone 6b/7a. The only plants that we mail order are snowdrops and miniature hostas and only within the US.

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Wonderful to see all these varieties, some of which are new to me. Snowdrops see us through a usually dark and dismal time of year over here, they provide the encouragement to get out into the garden even if it is cold and miserable.
You have shown us some really beautiful flowers with very unusual markings, I can imagine that you must have really enjoyed your visit!

Pauline, Thanks, I was happy to share. I wonder if you have had all the rain in England that I keep hearing about. My snowdrops are way ahead due to really warm weather through December plus and now we are going t\down to 0 F on Saturday night. It’s always an adventure. Carolyn

Carolyn, I love those new varieties! Hard to choose a favorite, but I like South Hayes, Jessica and Virescent a tiny bit more……

Here in SE Michigan, it’s going down to zero the next two nights, but under the 10″ snow cover, my snowdrops should be fine. Don’t know about zero degrees with no snow cover but will let you know if that happens.

In some years, I’ve seen a few blooms of common snowdrop plus winter aconite in weather in the teens without snow in late January and don’t remember any damage from subsequent temps in teens or lower.

Wish I had all those lovely new snowdrops! Wondering in whose garden you photographed them. I’d love to pop over to Philadelphia to see them all!

Stunning display and a delight to see. Can totally understand the addiction. My husband kids me when I come in with mud on my chest from ‘getting down and dirty’ to look closely at the little gems. Thanks so much for sharing these treasures.

Nora, From your description I know you are a fellow snowdrop lover. Sometimes the only way to see them in the garden is flat on the ground. Luckily all these beauties were in pots in a nice warm greenhouse and could be moved around to admire at will. Carolyn

Good to see an Irish snowdrop in the collection – ‘The Whopper’, which is a sister to ‘Cicely Hall’ and came from Robin Hall’s garden at Primrose Hill, Lucan, Co. Dublin. It is not quite as upright as ‘Cicely Hall’, a little inclined to flop about somewhat but, nonetheless, a good big and strong plant. Paddy Tobin.

I would be interested to learn how the snowdrops in your friend’s garden were displayed. There is always gravel in the background. Are they kept in small pots? Planted near the gravel? In a special display bed? Thank you, Carolyn, for a illuminating and delightful post on this coldest of Feb. mornings!

Linda, All the plants photographed for the post are in a greenhouse in very small pots. I picked each pot up out of the trays with hundreds of blooming snowdrops and photographed them against the gravel on the floor of the greenhouse. The gravel makes a good neutral background. Carolyn

These photos are stunning and it’s nice to see the snowdrops close up. I’m wondering if you ever use them as cut flowers. If so, how do you show them to their best advantage? Also, do they have a fragrance?

Elizabeth, I have some pretty tiny antique bottles, especially an emerald green one, that I use to display a few snowdrops, often in the powder room. They can also be mixed in with hellebores and other wintere bloomers if you use the tall varieities. Carolyn

I tend to like large and loud hostas. Miniatures would get lost here. We sell leaf mulch here in Hilltown, so all my plants are VERY happy. (I noticed LEAFING on an Ogon Spirea the other day; perhaps the groundhog was right–hope so!)